32" scale VS 34" on large body Series basses!

[John Ramberg (johnr)]

Hi All,
 
I own a 34 scale Series I standard body and would like some input as to the playability, pros and cons, of the same bass but in 32 medium scale. I'm finding it quite a reach on the 34 standard body. Comments from medium scale standard body players appreciated.
 
Cheers,
 
John

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hi John,
in the past 8 I owned 3 Almebics (only one I still have). The first Alembic I purchased was a medium scaled Spoiler . For one or another reason it just doesn't seem to fit me right. As I said in another thread: I'm rather tall and stout, about 1.90m. I have quite a reach with my hands. I had the same problem with a Danelectro bass. Beware: it plays smooth but ...it doen's felt right. The secondAlembic was a long Scale Mark KIng Signature in Coco Bolo (I unfortunately had to sell) 4 string. It was pure perfection for me. The bass I own now is a SII 5 string in 34 scale. I even asked the Alembicians to provide me with a wider neck than standard. No ...I don't even have gigantic hands and fingers but there is no reach problem. Maybe because I'm so tall. But also (I guess) because I'm not that finger-style-magician bass-player at all. I'm merely in keeping the groove with straight bass-lines. The only problem I have is with playing fast cross-overs f.i. in  the low C or F position.
 
Paul

[mica]

I find that most of our customers can play a medium scale on a four string and have satisfaction with their sound. You can feel less tension in the strings on a medium scale, so it's an important consideration if the lower tension will put you in a bad mood for playing good music.  
 
If you don't regularly need access to the highest frets, there is plenty of room to move the peghead closer to the body by attaching the body at a lower fret number when we're building your bass. The Standard Point body joins at about the 20th fret. We could attach the body at the 18th fret and get your left hand reach in more familiar territory (similar reach to a P bass). Of course, this isn't much help if you need the upper frets frequently.  
 
If you want the body moved closer to the pegehad and you need the upper fret access, we could recarve the lower horn. It won't look the same, but it will function as required.

[Daniel Tracey (dannobasso)]

I'm a big fan of medium scales. I have 5 medium scale spoilers in both wide and narrow spacings.  a 4 , 3 6's and a 7 fretless. The 32 scale really responds to any nuance that you care to play with. You never fight the bass at  harder sections of loud playing. I never have any finger or callous problems. My short scale SC signature deluxe plays very close to the feel of the 32's. The craftsmen at Alembic did a fantastic carving on my last 2 custom spoilers. The neck meets the body at the 20th fret on the low side and the 22nd on the high side. the taper gives unrestricted access to the 24th fret. All of my 8 Alembics are different from eachother including an exploiter 34 scale and excell 5 34 scale. I can switch easily between them all. For slap work, jazz (wider) spacing was no problem to incorporate into the deluxe neck. The B's are tight and have good tone and sustain.
Danno

[James L. Martin (malthumb)]

Maybe I'm over-simplifying, but when I spend a lot of time in 1st or 2nd position, I have a tendency to shift the body of my bass to rest over my right hip.  It brings the headstock closer to me.  I'm fairly short (5'7) and have short arms, but I love my 34 scale basses.
 
Peace,
 
James
 

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hi there,
 
to James: it's a nice instrument you have. I think mine is fairly similar. I have a omega cut-out. I'll post pictures in the showcade as soon as I've cleaned up my bass a bit and my camera ready.
Keep on the low -side!
 
Paul

[John Ramberg (johnr)]

Hi All,
 
Thanks for your replys. I know what it's like to play a medium scale bass as I have a Kubicki ExFactor. From what has been posted and from some simple fret calculations, a medium scale series neck will be about 1.5  shorter to reach the nut than a 34 scale, if the body neck intersection is at the 21st fret. This would make a big difference for me as my 1st. and 2nd position playing is hampered by a bad wrist. Therefore, I've posted a trade proposition on the swap board. If anyone is interested in my bass and has a comparable medium scale to trade, please let me know.
 
jrberg@telusplanet.net
 
Cheers,
 
John

[Hartmut Engel (haddimudd)]

It just occured to me that the reach on my long scale is really easy and in closer range when playing the bass in a sitting position without a strap. In such a situation the entire body of the bass is rested on the right leg which shifts the bass even further to the right due to the cut-away. It would be nice to get the bass to also HANG in that same position when using it on a strap. I guess, however, on a standard body that would require the upper horn to be elongated. After all, the position I discribed reminds me a bit of what James was mentioning earlier whith shifting the bass to the right...
 
Hartmut

[Felipe Reis (felipe)]

I used to be a 34 defender all my life... Until last week when I got my 81 Series One medium scale. Perfect low end, good reach ate F, good access to high frets...awesome.
 
I was wondering if Stanley Clarke used (or uses) medium scale basses.
 
Ain't we funkin' now?

[David M. McKenney (david_mckenney)]

Coming off a long-scale BCRich (waaaaay back in '81) and onto a medium-scale Series 1, the Alembic was the same reach for 1st position. The 32 scale is helpful with my merely medium-sized hands, and no real loss of overtones. The only drawback is finding good strings in medium scale (a lament that is echoed at length in another thread somewhere on this site).
 
play nice,
 
David McK.

[mica]

Stanley's basses are all short scale, 30.75 - something many find hard to believe considering the size of his hands.  
 
I'll ask around and get  a list compiled of medium and short scale strings on the market.

[David M. McKenney (david_mckenney)]

Just to finish (I guess) my message above, I am currently using Alembic CX-3 long-scale, .040 - .100. Like all long-scale strings on a medium-scale Alembic, ya gotta be CAREFUL winding on the E (Yes, you will wind some of the outer wrap onto the post. Yes, I know yer not S'POSED to. Too Bad!). A little patience with fitment of a fresh E is the only possible drawback to a medium-scale bass.  
 
(By-the-way: CX-3's are WONDERFUL: the right balance of beefy and bright, and they last a long time -- no small feat with my acidic hands!)  
 
Hope that helps. Play nice.
 
David McK.

[David M. McKenney (david_mckenney)]

A quick check (I've got laundry in the dryer, so I've got time...) at a site which JUST sells STRINGS (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) shows medium-scale stringsets offered by D'Addario, Fender, GHS, LaBella, Rotosound, and Thomastik Infeld. These same companies also offer short-scale sets.
 
Ut! Gotta go! Dryer's done!
 
Peace On You,
 
David McK.